World's 1st large-scale cross-regional MR×AI digital art exhibition debuts in Nansha

SURREALITY, the world's first large-scale cross-regional mixed reality (MR) × artificial intelligence (AI) digital art exhibition, opened on June 17 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (Guangzhou) in Nansha district, as a flagship event marking HKUST's 35th anniversary.

The exhibition features around 50 works by over 70 leading digital artists from 23 countries and regions, among them Emmy Award winners and laureates of the Venice Film Festival’s immersive section. It harnesses VR, MR, AI, spatial computing and real-time rendering to weave AI-generated art into physical campus spaces, offering immersive experiences that unite artistic creativity with technological excellence in a global setting.

Highlighted works such as The Gate, a metaverse installation enabling seamless virtual travel between the two campuses, embody the “one HKUST, two complementary campuses” philosophy. Kun Peng transforms a giant fish into a soaring bird in a stunning visual spectacle, while Twin Tree envisions a living digital ecosystem. Internationally, bio-art pioneer Eduardo Kac presents GFP Bunny, featuring Alba — the iconic transgenic rabbit that redefined art, ethics and biotechnology, and has appeared in The Big Bang Theory and The Simpsons.